Tips for coping with PND from mums who've been there

If you're feeling like the baby blues cloud hasn't passed, or you're concerned about a friend who hasn't really been herself since giving birth, it might be postnatal depression.

Postnatal depression can happen soon after birth, or creep up months after labour. It's thought about one in eight mums experience it, and even if you're not sure it's full PND, it's totally normal to have a low period after labour.

Whether it's just a down patch or is PND, members of our community have been sharing their experiences and the things that helped them when they were feeling low:

"Speaking to the doctor and having it out there helped. They won't think you're a terrible mum and won't take your baby away."

"Talk about it. Ideally with a healthcare professional who can help you access support, but even just venting anonymously on an online forum counts as getting it out there. And talk with literally no filter, just spill out whatever is in your head, no matter how mad or bad it seems to you, it won't be anything someone else hasn't felt before."

"Accept any help offered."

"I have found mindfulness and guided meditation helped, when previously I would've dismissed them as hippy nonsense, and I was terrified of antidepressants but they have helped too."

"I make sure I go out everyday and get fresh air and exercise - the natural light helps."

"I found going to baby groups and meeting people really helped. Yes it was terrifying at first, and some groups weren't for me, but others were brilliant and I made some great friends."

"Am still recovering, but for me noticing when I'm heading downhill and getting some support can help. When my husband realised I wasn't in a good way after many months of me trying to tell him, but him not getting it, it was a huge relief as he upped the help he was giving me."

"Person-centred counselling helped me to offload, but CBT made me worse as it added to my list of things to do each day so I stopped going."

"I lost weight (through Slimming World) and started walking with the pram! We walked 12 miles a day sometimes."

"I got a routine sorted in the morning, so I got out of bed and had a shower. Speaking to my mum every day on Skype and having lots of tea and cake with NCT girls. Just having something planned to get me out of the house helped."

"Making time for yourself. When my little one was small I started crafting again during nap times and the evening. It was good to get something back the old me did and not just be 'mum' all the time."

"Exercise. And sorting out baby's sleep issues using sleep training helped as sleep deprivation made the PND worse."

"A set four-hour window every weekend when my husband would take our baby and I could use the time however I wanted. It was great to be able to rely on that time being mine without feeling like I had to ask for it."

"I joined a choir!"

"Our dog. He forced me into going out which meant a change of scenery, fresh air and meeting and chatting to other dog walkers. I owe him a lot."

"I had lots of support from my family, but it was CBT sessions that helped me to get stronger and more confident again. They helped me to realise it was important to take care of myself, so I in turn could take care of my boy. They also helped me to see that being a mummy wasn't about being perfect and that my best was enough. We are still extremely close, and my belief in myself as a mummy means things are generally happier all round at home."

"The anti depressants have really helped. I didn't want to take them as bizarrely I didn't want to admit to having 'mental problems' but they made such an amazing difference."

"I walked every day and I went back to work after 6 months. I'm not cut out for baby duty - I'm loads better at work full time."

"If something doesn't work then try something else, there will be something out there that works, and believe that you will get better."

This is a post by a contributing parent and the opinions expressed are their own. If you’re concerned about your child speak to your healthcare provider.

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